# Altium Develop vs Shapr3D Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Altium Develop excels in providing a unified design environment, allowing users to seamlessly transition from schematic capture to PCB layout. This integration is enhanced by features like real-time collaboration and version control, which help teams work together efficiently.
- **Users say** Shapr3D stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it easy to create detailed 3D models quickly, even on mobile devices like the iPad. This accessibility is a significant advantage for users who need to iterate on designs while on the go.
- **According to verified reviews** , Altium Develop has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its robust capabilities for PCB design. Users appreciate the extensive built-in libraries and modules that streamline project development, allowing for faster completion without confusion.
- **Reviewers mention** that Shapr3D's learning curve is notably quick, with many finding the software runs smoothly in limited environments. This ease of use is particularly beneficial for those new to CAD software, as it allows for rapid skill acquisition and productivity.
- **Users highlight** that while Altium Develop has a strong feature set, it may require more time for setup and configuration compared to Shapr3D, which is praised for its straightforward onboarding process. This difference can impact how quickly teams can start using the software effectively.
- **G2 reviewers note** that Shapr3D's support quality is highly rated, with users appreciating the responsive assistance they receive. In contrast, while Altium Develop also offers solid support, some users feel there is room for improvement in this area, particularly for new users navigating complex features.



| | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 1,037 | 172 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (59.0% of reviews) | Small-Business (84.9% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year | Free | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Altium Develop

Pros:
- Ease of Use (272 reviews)
- Features (218 reviews)

Cons:
- Learning Curve (93 reviews)
- Expensive (91 reviews)

### Shapr3D

Pros:
- Ease of Use (7 reviews)
- Easy Learning (5 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (2 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (853 reviews) | 9.0 (119 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.1 (871 reviews) | 9.4 (120 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (409 reviews) | 9.1 (39 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.3 (138 reviews) | 9.9 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (762 reviews) | 9.3 (84 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (132 reviews) | 9.7 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (829 reviews) | 9.0 (97 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Altium Develop

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Altium Develop Pricing

Price: Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year

Description: Altium Develop offers subscription-based pricing starting at $1,990 per year per workspace, which includes one ECAD Design Author seat and a shared collaboration workspace for projects, libraries, and design data. Additional ECAD Design Author seats can be added for $995 per user per year, with support for up to four additional authors per workspace. The platform also includes unlimited free collaborator access for review, commenting, task management, and BOM visibility at no extra cost. This pricing model is designed to help teams scale design capacity through a per-seat subscription while enabling broad cross-functional collaboration without increasing overall costs.

Key Features:
- Unified Workspace & Collaboration: Cloud-based platform (Altium 365) for PCB design, schematics, MCAD models, and BOMs with real-time collaboration across teams
- Component & Library Management: Centralized component libraries with traceability, lifecycle management, and part request workflows
- Advanced PCB Design: Support for high-speed PCB design, HDI, rigid-flex, and 3D-MID using Altium Designer

[Learn more about Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Shapr3D

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Free

Price: Free

Description: Try Shapr3D for free for an unlimited period

Key Features:
- 2 designs
- Access Shapr3D on iPad, Mac, and Windows
- Import - X_T, X_B, IGES, STEP, STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM, SHAPR, DXF, DWG, Image

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/shapr3d/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.4/10 | 85 |
| **Shapr3D** | 8.7/10 | 91 |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | 8.5 (77 reviews) | 9.5 (87 reviews) | 
| **Modeling** | 8.3 (74 reviews) | 9.4 (87 reviews) | 
| **Visualize ** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | 9.3 (86 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | 8.3 (72 reviews) | 8.4 (72 reviews) | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | 8.1 (74 reviews) | 8.4 (80 reviews) | 
| **Push/Pull** | 8.1 (67 reviews) | 9.3 (76 reviews) | 
| **Views** | 8.9 (70 reviews) | 9.3 (82 reviews) | 
| **Grips ** | 8.0 (65 reviews) | 8.7 (69 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | 8.7 (68 reviews) | 7.5 (49 reviews) | 
| **Documentation ** | 8.5 (70 reviews) | 8.3 (57 reviews) | 
| **Data Extract** | 8.2 (65 reviews) | 7.7 (50 reviews) | 

### Product Data Management (PDM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.5/10 | 50 |
| **Shapr3D** | N/A | N/A |

#### Metadata

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Repository** | 8.5 (42 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Taxonomy** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Types** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Data Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | 8.5 (48 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Alignment** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Workflows** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Lifecycle** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.6/10 | 757 |
| **Shapr3D** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | 9.1 (705 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Schematic editor** | 9.2 (692 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | 7.6 (639 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Component placement** | 8.9 (672 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Library

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | 8.3 (696 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | 9.1 (668 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Layers** | 9.2 (675 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customization

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom commands** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Custom interface** | 7.8 (593 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.2/10 | 27 |
| **Shapr3D** | N/A | N/A |

#### Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 8.5 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering Tools** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 8.9 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.7 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | 8.0 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | 8.7 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Import Files** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Interoperability** | 8.2 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | 8.6 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | 9.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Scripts** | 7.5 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Menus** | 7.6 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Interface** | 7.8 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 8.5 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | 8.3 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 8.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | 8.6 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Requirements Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 7.6/10 | 36 |
| **Shapr3D** | N/A | N/A |

#### Requirements Authoring and Structure - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Structured Requirements Authoring** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Hierarchical Requirements Organization** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Compliance and Governance - Requirement Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Regulated Industry Standards Support** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Requirements Listing** | 8.9 (32 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Centralized Information** | 8.5 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability** | 8.2 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration and Review - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Review and Approval Workflows** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Access Control** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Communication

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Stakeholder Communication** | 6.7 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internal Communication Enablement** | 7.3 (30 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Role-Based Access Co - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Baselining** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Procedural

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Automated Creation & Testing** | 5.9 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Bidirectional Traceability** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Impact Analysis** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability Matrix Generation** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### AI Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Suspect Link Detection** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **ALM and Project Management Tool Integration** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Change Management and Version Control - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Complete Audit Trail** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad)

**Unique to Altium Develop (4):** [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design), [Product Data Management (PDM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-data-management-pdm), [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [Requirements Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/requirements-management)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Altium Develop | Shapr3D | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 59.0% | 84.9% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 28.9% | 10.2% | 
| **Enterprise** | 12.1% | 4.8% | 

### By Industry

#### Altium Develop

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 21.8%
- **Automotive:** 10.8%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 10.0%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.6%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 6.2%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.0%
- **Research:** 3.3%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.1%
- **Higher Education:** 3.1%
- **Design:** 2.5%
- **Other:** 28.8%

#### Shapr3D

- **Design:** 15.1%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 8.4%
- **Furniture:** 6.6%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 6.0%
- **Higher Education:** 5.4%
- **Construction:** 4.8%
- **Automotive:** 3.6%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 3.0%
- **Primary/Secondary Education:** 3.0%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 3.0%
- **Other:** 41.0%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Altium Develop

- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (520 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1936 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (713 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (613 reviews)
- [Designcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (628 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1327 reviews)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (352 reviews)
- [Teamcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/teamcenter/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1309 reviews)

### Alternatives to Shapr3D

- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1327 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (520 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [AutoCAD LT](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (286 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (713 reviews)
- [Rhinoceros](https://www.g2.com/products/rhinoceros/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (192 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1936 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (613 reviews)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (352 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Altium Develop

- Title: [Who uses Altium?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-uses-altium) — 3 comments *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Designer is used mainly by those who create and work with printed circuit boards or PCBs. All electrical products, computers, toasters, remotes, and..."
- Title: [Is Altium Designer free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-altium-designer-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "No, Altium Designer is not free but there is a free viewer that can be downloaded. "
- Title: [What is Altium Designer used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-designer-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Desinger is a complete PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software package, which includes Schematic Capture, PCB Layout, Libraries, Manufacturing..."
- Title: [Is there a way to modelize in 3D the Pcb designs?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36429-is-there-a-way-to-modelize-in-3d-the-pcb-designs) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No or Yes, you can only place 3D bodies for components in PCB and get 3D view of your design. I think by placing components are your will. yes you can..."
- Title: [What is Altium 365 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-365-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Create circuit design & PCB Design"

### Shapr3D

- Title: [What can you do with Shapr3D?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-can-you-do-with-shapr3d) — 9 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Due to the short learning curve and ability to create quick and dimension-accurate designs, Shapr3D becomes an extension of your imagination."
- Title: [What can you do with Shapr3D free version?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-can-you-do-with-shapr3d-free-version) — 6 comments
  > **Top comment:** "The limit is your imagination. "
- Title: [Is Shapr3D any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-shapr3d-any-good) — 4 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Sure. Now define what you mean by ‘any good’. Not really a useful question without far better context. "
- Title: [iPad files to computer](https://www.g2.com/discussions/ipad-files-to-computer) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "It's not an available feature as of today but coming very-very soon! "
- Title: [Can you 3D print from Shapr3D?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-you-3d-print-from-shapr3d) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Not directly. 3D printing requires to export in a format supported by slicers such as STL or 3MF. The slicer converts the shape into g-code which a 3D..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/altium-develop-vs-shapr3d)